Psychological Studies and Experiments

Every twenty-fifth person who ordered a subscription to a weekly news magazine was contacted by market researchers to complete a survey of opinions regarding the magazine's contents. The researchers were most clearly employing a technique known as:

• naturalistic observation

• the double-blind procedure

• random sampling

• replication

Researchers control factors that might influence a dependent variable by means of

• random assignment

• replication

• naturalistic observation

• operational definitions

In a study of factors that might affect memory, research participants were assigned to drink either an alcoholic or nonalcoholic beverage prior to completing a memory test. Those who drank the nonalcoholic beverage participated in the _____ condition.

• survey

• control

• experimental

• correlational

In an experimental study of the effects of dieting on weight loss, dieting would be the:

• control condition.

• independent variable.

• operational definition.

• dependent variable.

Illusory correlation refers to:

• the perception that two negatively correlate variables are positively correlated.

• the perception of a correlation where there is none.

• an insignificant correlation.

• a correlation that equals -1.0.

In order to study the effects of lighting on mood, Dr. Cooper had students fill out questionnaires in brightly lit or dimly lit rooms. In this study, the independent variable consisted of:

• the number of students assigned to each group.

• the students' responses to the questionaire.

• the room lighting.

• the subject matter of the questions asked.

In an experiment to determine the effects of attention on memory, memory is the:

• control condition.

• intervening variable.

• independent variable.

• dependent variable.

Mr. Brown has gathered evidence that the self-esteem of students is negatively correlated with their typical levels of anxiety. Before he uses this evidence to conclude that self-esteem reduces anxiety, Mr. Brown should first be reminded that:

• events often seem more probable in hindsignt.

• random sequences of events often don't look random.

• we often exaggerate the extent to which others share our opinions.

• correlation does not prove causation.

In an experimental study of the extent to which mental alertness is inhibited by sleep deprivation, alertness would be the:

• control variable.

• independent variable.

• dependent variable.

• experimental condition.

A negative correlation between people's physical health and their marital happiness would indicate that:

• poor physical health has a negative impact on marital happiness.

• marital unhappiness promotes poor health.

• higher levels of marital happiness are associated with lower levels of physical health.

• marital happiness has no causal influence on physical health.